Search - Dannii Minogue :: Neon Nights

The Essential Dannii Minogue : An Underrated Classic

Cabir Davis | 11/21/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First of all, if you're new to Dannii Minogue, then I would suggest that you start with THIS album, and NOT her Greatest Hits compilation "The Hits and Beyond" from 2006. While the latter does indeed have all her biggest hits, it is packed with many remnants of her early 1990s synth-pop years, which could be a huge turn-off for new listeners. However, this expanded 2-CD version of "Neon Nights" is the DEFINITIVE Dannii Minogue album - I would choose this single album over any of her studio CDs, and yes, even over her greatest hits collection.



"Neon Nights" is a dance-pop record, with a very electronica sensibility that runs through it. Think of Madonna's "Ray of Light" and Kylie Minogue's "Impossible Princess", and this album follows in that William Orbit-soaked tradition. This is a good thing, because it means that there is no `filler'. In fact, every song from this could be a single. The most successful one from this album was "I Begin to Wonder" (which reached UK No.2) and the more addictive "Put the Needle on It" (an addictive chorus that you'll be humming for days). Standout tracks also include my personal favorite "Creep" (which is a homage to both a lover and a drug - at the same time1), and "Vibe On". But Dannii really shines toward the end of the album with the epic "A Piece of Time", an instant pop classic. It's a pity this song isn't better known, as it certainly propels the album into a totally different stratosphere.



"Neon Nights" is an album that you will instantly like. This is not an album you have to play three, four times before you find something worth singing along to. Every song is straightforward verse-corus-verse, and its all frothy and light hearted. The perfect party album? Possibly, but more than that it's a very essential POP album, one that you can pull out five years later and still find a lot to love.



The 2-CD Edition is especially important, because it gives us all the B-Sides, Remixes, and leftover tracks from the "Neon Nights" Era. Prime cuts include the amazing "Nervous", the much discussed "Hide and Seek", and the immensely critically acclaimed (but seldom heard) "Goodbye Song". Some of these tracks are actually better than some cuts on the original CD, so its great we finally get to hear them. As in every 2-CD Edition, there has to be remixes, and all of the primary remixes that featured on the CD-Single releases from the era are included here. "Don't Wanna Loose this Groove", a song that samples Madonna (and even Madonna loved it!) was one of the biggest novelty tracks earlier this decade, and it finally features here. Disc 2 contains all of these remixes, but since I'm not a remix fan, I can appreciate the effort but I won't be listening to much of it. I got this for the bonus tracks alone.



What I really liked is that each CD is almost 80 minutes in length, which means that altogether we get about 160 minutes of music on this 2-CD Edition. That's almost THREE HOURS worth of audio material for "Neon Nights". Incredible! I love it when artists respect their fans and give them what they really want. This is by far the definitive Dannii album, and I would suggest picking this up, alongwith her new 2-CD version of "Girl" (her late `90s album). That album wasn't as revolutionary as this one, but I highly recommend it just for the bonus tracks.



If you're new to Dannii, get this now. Rarely has a re-release been given so much respect and care, and the hard work shows. 3 hours long, and never boring, this is the ultimate Dannii Minogue.

"

Most Amazing Pop Music Package EVER

Jordan Lester | Louisiana, USA | 11/11/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This has got to be the best 2-disc set of any CD I've ever come across. Every single song is genius and so catchy and perfect for the club. It's a very sexy album, and the b-sides/unreleased songs are just as good, if not better than the actual album songs.



If you want the best club/dance/pop music.. get this. It's outstanding."